October 27, 2005
National Guard

10/27/05, Tikrit, Iraq – More than 3,000 U.S. soldiers from Task Force Liberty and the 278th Regimental Combat Team will conclude their mission in eastern Diyala Province with a departure ceremony on Forward Operating Base Caldwell on Oct. 29.

The 1st Brigade of the Iraqi Army's 5th Division in Diyala, because of their proven operational capabilities, will take on a greater security role in the military operations in the sector during the ceremony. The Iraqi 1st Brigade continues to train and equip its forces while providing command and control for battalion-sized operations in eastern Diyala Province.

The regiment, from the Tennessee Army National Guard, achieved significant success during its operations in eastern Diyala Province. Troopers of the regimental combat team conducted more than 13,000 combat patrols during their eleven months of service. The 278th Regimental Combat Team would achieve an improvised explosive device discovery rate of near 60 percent, preventing the loss of life among Task Force Liberty soldiers and Iraqi civilians.

The 278th seized and destroyed more than 340 weapons caches of bomb making materials and another 275 stockpiles of unexploded ordnance.

The partnership of the regiment with Iraqi Security Forces resulted in the training of more than 10,000 Iraqi soldiers, police officers and border enforcement personnel.

The impact of the regiment on the lives of countless Iraqi civilians exceeded $103 million on projects that included the construction or renovations of more than 50 schools, nearly 74 water and sewage projects, eight health clinics, 32 road projects, 25 electricity and power projects, 25 business and 23 government renovations.

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